This Is A Sad Day

I can't tell you the number of hours I spent at this magnificent little shithole. Between 1996 and 2000, I lived in a tiny studio right across the street. I was working as a bartender myself at various places in the neighborhood at the time, and I would always come here after I closed up my bar for a post-closing time shift drink. This was the first bar I went to with my old high school pal Eddie after discovering that we lived only a block apart. So many, many good times.

After I got to be friends with Shane and Alex, the bartender & barback, they would close up the bar and kick everybody else out at 4:00 and we -- along with a couple of other stalwarts -- would play pool or cards until the sun came up, drinking as much as we wanted for a $20 tip. I'd never felt so cool, and at this stage of my life I probably won't ever again. I watched this guy lose $200 in a game of 25-cent ante poker, with as much aplomb as a guy who probably made $23,000 a year possibly could. That fucker ate ramen noodles for a month.


Fuck you, East Village. You're dead to me.

Matt Wise

I got a new article up over at the 'Geek, this time about Matt Wise, the right-handed relief pitcher the Mets picked up this week. I'm not sure how I feel about this one, but I've been busy as fuck organizing M4K, and it's done and handed in on time, at any rate.

Speaking of Mustaches for Kids, this year's charity Mustache is almost gone. Technically speaking, the month-long growing period is over -- our 'Stache Bash was last Saturday. But if you haven't sent in your pledges yet (and you know who you are) it isn't too late -- you can donate here or here. Or just gimme a paper check made out to DonorsChoose.org. It's a really good cause.

By the way, regarding Matt Wise: the Mets traded Guillermo Mota to the Brewers for Johnny Estrada, then signed Brian Schneider and dumped Estrada. Then, after the Brewers had to non-tender Matt Wise because they signed Riske and Gagne (oh my!) the Mets picked Wise up for about $2 million less than Mota is going to cost in 2008. For those of you playing at home, the Mets effectively traded Guillermo Mota for Matt Wise, straight up, saving themselves $2 mil and probably getting a better pitcher in the bargain. Sweet.

My Articles Thus Far

Here's where you can find all of the MetsGeek articles I've written so far. I did one on how badly the Mets would miss having Tom Glavine (some, but not as much as you might think); one on whether or not Livan Hernandez was any good (no, no damn good); and one on whether Carlos Silva was any good (yes, with some reservations).

HJ, I hope you can understand these, and that they aren't too boring

I Am Now A Geek

A MetsGeek, that is. The analysis of the Mets late-season collapse you can read below earned me a spot as a staff writer at my favorite sabermetrically-inclined Mets site. Finally, I receive the recognition which I so richly deserve. Anyway, I'll continue to post over here, but I'll be writing over at the 'Geek every other Thursday. My latest article is up right now -- you should read it.